BT workers in Oswestry went on strike on Fridat (July 29) morning as part of the first national action at the company since 1987.
Around 40,000 workers – including some of those at Whittington House – went on strike nationwide as disputes over pay boiled over with the Communication Worker’s Union (CWU) accusing BT of taking part in “desperate” union-busting behaviour.
As the strike approached, the CWU made a series of accusations against BT with the most serious including reports of employees in some workplaces claiming that management intend to keep a register of striking workers and have threatened offshoring work in areas where the strikes are strong.
The strike follows BT Group management’s imposition of a £1,500-per-year pay increase for employees earlier this year, however this would be well below the RPI inflation levels hitting 11.8 per cent last month, meaning a real-terms pay cut.
Tension rose after it was reported that the company made £1.3 billion in annual profit, shareholder profit of £750 million, and Philip Jansen, the company’s CEO, taking home a £3.5 million pay package – a 32 per cent wage increase.
As a result, BT engineers and call centre workers voted for strikes last month with unprecedented mandates of 95.8 per cent and 91.5 per cent, respectively.
Simon Edwards CWU branch secretary for Mid Wales, the Marches and North Staffordshire, said: “Our members don’t want to take strike action, but neither are they going to accept the imposition of a real-terms pay cut while the company made £1.3 billion in profit, shareholders gained £750 million, and the CEO pocketed a 32 per cent pay rise – taking him to £3.5 million.
“They’re using Swiss banks while our members use foodbanks.
“Some BT Group workers earn just £21,000-a-year, but they have self-respect and aren’t afraid to stick up for themselves.
“The union-busting techniques deployed against loyal key workers have been pathetic and desperate.
“BT have assured the media repeatedly that contingency plans are in place to undermine strikes, but their panic shows otherwise.
“They are taking action against corporate hypocrisy, and no boss will crack their confidence any time soon.”
A BT Group spokesperson defended their position not to offer any further pay rise and said: “At the start of this year, we were in exhaustive discussions with the CWU that lasted for two months, trying hard to reach an agreement on pay.
“When it became clear that we were not going to reach an accord, we took the decision to go ahead with awarding our team member and frontline colleagues the highest pay award in more than 20 years, effective April 1.
“We have confirmed to the CWU that we won’t be re-opening the 2022 pay review, having already made the best award we could. We’re balancing the complex and competing demands of our stakeholders and that includes making once-in-a-generation investments to upgrade the country’s broadband and mobile networks, vital for the UK economy and for BT Group’s future – including our people.
“While we respect the choice of our colleagues who are CWU members to strike, we will work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected.”
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